Cell Phones and Wi-FiPotential Benefits and Battlegrounds
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old news - 12:28PM Saturday Jul 29 2006)
tags: wirelessThe New York Times looks at
The Wi-Fi in Your Handset The Wi-Fi compatible phones, some already in use but with many almost to market, offer users alternatives to traditional cell networks at a potentially lower cost. A fact that won't please many cell phone providers, but some (Cingular Wireless, T-Mobile) are poised to take advantage of the emerging technology. Earthlink, already vested in Wi-Fi, plans on introducing service later this year. If the trend toward internet based calling accelerates, don't expect the telcos to be happy either, but it could help push broadband sales and expedite roll-outs. On the downside, Wi-Fi hotspots have more limited range, and reliance on a hodge-podge of hot spots can be vexing. You might even want to stay abreast of new offerings in our
Cell Phone and
Wireless forums.